“Ascension” is a six-hour mini coming to Syfy in November. Think present day, other world. Exec producer Jason Blum explains the space opera opens in the middle of the journey of 600 settlers sent into space in 1963 by John F. Kennedy… only the settlers’ children and children’s children are going to get to their destination…also, there’s been a murder on the ship.

Created and written by executive producer and showrunner Philip Levens (“Smallville”), the miniseries stars Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Brian Van Holt (“Cougar Town”) as a power couple, Captain and Chief Steward.

The producers explain (vaguely) that the ship serves as a microcosm of society but the travelers left before women’s rights, gay rights, political correctness, etc. This closed society has evolved differently than ours. The culture is different, too, so set design/wardrobe/hair might be intriguing.

“The scope of the show is enormous. Low-budget went out the window,” said Blum.

The network’s description:

“Following a covert U.S. space mission that sent hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Nearly 50 years into the journey, as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.

The inspiration for “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” on Bravo? Suffice to say celebrated executive producer Marti Noxon made her last alimony payment today, after a divorce five years ago.

“It’s not autobiographical,” Noxon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) said, but it borrows from the “life lessons” she’s picked up through the experience.

The 13-episode first season is an exploration of sexual politics.

Lisa Edelstein (“House”) stars as Abby McCarthy with Paul Adelstein (“Private Practice”), as a couple who love each other and love their kids, but can’t stand to be in the same room together.

As previously reported, Laverne Cox (“Orange is the New Black”) will guest star.

Noxon initially had a half-hour in mind for Showtime, but the series was picked up as a full hour by Bravo as the network’s first scripted show. “It did change the DNA of the stories, we had room for more characters,” she said. Initially, she didn’t realize how much the story would tilt toward the husband in the first season.

The clips are encouraging, the interview session was promising. All in all, if Noxon can help Bravo launch a scripted series, maybe the network can wean itself from all the rich-people-behaving-badly “reality” shows.

Sunday’s 2014 World Cup final on ABC was the most-watched men’s World Cup ever. Germany vs. Argentina averaged 17.3 million Viewers and 9.1 rating. Also the most streamed sporting event ever on WatchESPN.

ABC said at its highest point, the telecast averaged 20,781,000 viewers and an 11.0 US HH rating from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

A total of 26.5 million watched across multiple networks, ABC, ESPN, Univision.

Apparently Denver viewers are saving themselves for Broncos action. Denver was not a top-10 market for the soccer spectacle.

Denver ranked 16th among the metered markets for Sunday’s final on ABC with a 10.3 rating and tied for 25th overall (on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC) for the 64 matches with a 2.8 rating.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.